oliverdavies.uk/source/_daily_emails/2024-01-18.md

---
title: Is zero unlimited?
date: 2024-01-18
permalink: archive/2024/01/18/is-zero-unlimited
snippet: |
    If you set a limit to be zero, would you expect it to return all the results or none?
tags:
    - software-development
    - clean-code
---

Something I've seen in code is the unclear use of zero when adding limits, such as loading items from a database.

In some instances, setting zero will return all items - essentially, an 'unlimited' value in disguise - rather than returning no results, which is what I'd expect.

I imagine the code looks something like this:

```language-php
if ($limit > 0) {
  $query->range(0, $limit);
}
```

If `$limit` is greater than one, add it to the query.

For me, using `0` as the unlimited value doesn't seem like the best option.

I'd prefer to use a `null` value as the default and only add the limit if it's set - i.e. an integer or not null.

It means the value could be either an integer or null, but I think the intent of the code is more explicit.

This would make the code look like this:

```language-php
if (is_int($limit)) {
  $query->range(0, $limit);
}
```

Whilst this is clearer, it doesn't cover all use cases.

Presumably, the limit should only be a positive integer.

It wouldn't make sense to set a negative number as the limit or, as the unlimited value is `null`, setting it to zero.

This is the end code I'd likely write:

```language-php
if (is_int($limit)) {
  if ($limit < 1) {
    throw new InvalidArgumentException('A limit must be a positive integer.');
  }

  $query->range(0, $limit);
}
```

If the limit is not an integer, nothing happens.

It throws an Exception if the value is invalid - i.e. less than one.

The limit is applied if the limit is greater than or equal to one.

While it's more complex as there are more checks to perform and different types in use, I think this is clearer and easier for someone reading or implementing the code to understand what it does and use it correctly.